Pirate republic is a form of republic where power is held by a loose collection of pirate crews.

Factions[edit | edit source]

Main article: Factions#Pirate_republics

Name	Effects	Description & notes
The Buccaneers	-5% national tax modifier +20% sailor recovery speed +1 yearly republican tradition	The Buccaneers are the desperate and disenfranchised. Ex-slaves, mutineers and impressed sailors all find sanctuary from the law in the Republic of Pirates. Gains influence through Coastal Raiding.
The Smugglers	+10% trade efficiency +10% global trade power -0.5 yearly prestige	The Smugglers are clandestine merchants willing to risk capture to sell their illegitimate wares. They provide a semi-legitimate front for the fencing of plundered goods. Gains influence through being at peace.
The Captains	+10% stability cost modifier +10% morale of navies +1 naval leader fire	Pirate Captains are often former privateers gone rogue, either out of greed or with a political motive. They have the experience, education and charisma to lead the pirates. Gains influence through Privateering.

The Barbary Corsair idea 7: Board of Captains provides a permanent 0.1 monthly captains influence

Coastal raiding[edit | edit source]

Main article: Naval_warfare#Coastal_Raiding

Pirate republics get an extra source of income by raiding coasts of other non-allied nations (or nations with relations over 100) for ducats and sailors. Use 3-4 light ships or 4-5 galleys.

War Against the World[edit | edit source]

Pirate republic can enact tier 6 reform War Against the World. This gives the country a casus belli against all other countries and an ability to demand provinces at 0 diplomatic cost.

It also disallows slaves. When a country passes this reform, all its provinces producing slaves are immediately set to produce “unknown”. This will also remove any Trade Stations in the province if present, as well as the province modifier “Slave Entrepot”. A new trade good will be randomly reassigned at the beginning of the next month based on the new weights for that province.

Reforms[edit | edit source]

See Republic#Pirate_Republic

Tier 1: Power structure[edit | edit source]

x	Reform Modifiers	Government Mechanics
Pirate Republic	−1 Yearly republican tradition −10 Maximum absolutism^[1] +50% Naval force limit modifier +33% Chance to capture enemy ships +75% Governing cost in states	May raid coasts, including coasts of countries with same religion. Can't form Trade Leagues Has factions: The Buccaneers, The Smugglers, The Captains. Term duration: 4 Years Prohibits switching government type. New rulers become admirals. Only available for pirate republics formed via decision or event or customized by nation designer. Elections change the influence of factions. Does not have estates. Cannot fall into a Presidential Dictatorship. Can Re- elect Rulers with the "Legendary Pirate" trait, at no cost

Comments: Lots of great bonuses here, can raid, +50% Naval force limit and Has factions stand out. But the +33% capture enemy ship is also good especially in the early game when you dont have much money to build ships (it will usually be transports you capture, but the occasional heavy ship is so sweet). The big drawback of +75% gov cost is no fun, it forces pirate republics to stay as a small to medium seize nation.

Tier 2: Republican Virtues[edit | edit source]

x	Reform Modifiers	Government Mechanics
Articles of Agreement	+0.5 Yearly republican tradition +10% National sailors modifier +0.1 Buccaneers influence
Smugglers Haven	+30% Trade power abroad +0.1 Smugglers influence
Council of Captains	+33% Privateer efficiency +0.1 Captains influence
The Privateer's Way	+25% Privateer efficiency +10% Morale of armies +10% Morale of navies −10% Naval maintenance modifier +1 Yearly republican tradition	Cannot ally any countries other than pirate republics

Comments: The privateer's Way clearly gives the best bonuses, but the drawback of not having any allies is harsh when you are small and raid all costal nations. Pick it early when you can't get any good allies anyway and switch to Articles of Agreement for the +0.5 Yearly republican tradition when big nations want to ally you.

Tier 3: Frequency of Elections[edit | edit source]

x	Reform Modifiers	Government Mechanics
Frequent Elections	−10 Maximum absolutism −1 Length of election term
Consolidation of Power	+10 Maximum absolutism +1 Length of election term	Re-election reduce estates influence by 10%
Formalize the Right of Re-election	−10 Maximum absolutism −0.1 Yearly corruption	Can force Re-election

Comments: Frequent Elections is the best especially if going totemist. But Consolidation of power is interesting to reduce estates influence fast.

Tier 4: Religion within the Republic[edit | edit source]

x	Reform Modifiers	Government Mechanics
Crew before Faith	+0.1 The buccaneers influence −0.1 Monthly war exhaustion
Complete Religious Freedom	−5% Development cost +1 Tolerance of heathens +1 Tolerance of heretics +0.1 The smugglers influence
Respect for the Sea	−1 National unrest +0.5 Yearly navy tradition +0.1 Monthly captains influence
Establish Religious Institutions	+2 Tolerance of the true faith −15 Maximum absolutism	Clergy estate enabled (starts with 20% land)

Comments: Establish Relgious Institutions is so much better than the other three. Having cleargy estate is huge.

Tier 5: Regionalism[edit | edit source]

x	Reform Modifiers	Government Mechanics
Provincial Governments	−25% State maintenance Global Prosperity Groth: +0.50
Administrative Divisions	+250 Governing capacity
Exile Colonial Companies	−100% Expel minorities cost Settler Chance: +5%
Cultural Administration	+2 Max promoted cultures −50% Promote culture cost

Comments: Administrative Divisions is the best by far with +250 Gov cap. Perhaps pick Provincial Governmets if you plan on staying small for a long time and change later.

Tier 6: Separation of Power[edit | edit source]

	Reform Modifiers	Government Mechanics
Presidential System	−10% Institution embracement cost
Attorney General	−15% Cost of advisors with ruler's culture	Advisor increase +0.02 yearly Republican Tradtion per level Can not seize Crown Land
War Against the World Doctrine	−5 Years of separatism −15% Shipbuilding time +0.1 Buccaneers influence	Enables War Against the World casus belli Disallows Slaves
Black Market Consortium	+0.1 Smugglers influence	Has merchant republic mechanics: +25% state governing cost -25% trade company governing cost Vassals, marches, and client states, which usually do not transfer trade power to their overlord, will transfer 50% if the overlord is a merchant republic. Can construct a trade post for 50 administrative power, giving +10 trade power, in one owned province per trade node (except the node containing the main trade city).
Pirate King	−20% Harsh treatment cost +1 Naval leader fire +0.1 Captains influence	Ruler reigns for life. No elections. An Admiral becomes ruler when the current ruler dies. If an admiral is assigned to fleet which is outside the supply range when the ruler dies, this admiral cannot become ruler. Ruler stats depend on admiral pips. On average 12 ruler points for 16-pips admiral.
Seize Executive Power	Lose 3 Stability	Changes government type to Monarchy. Lose 7 government reforms.
Proclaim Divine Guidance	Lose 3 Stability	Changes government type to Theocracy. Lose 7 government reforms.

Comments: Easy War Against the World Doctrine for the causus belli. Black Market Consortium and Pirate King could be interesting.

Tier 7: Economical Matters[edit | edit source]

x	Effects	Notes
Open Naval Services	+0.1 The buccaneers influence −5% Ship cost +15% Ship repair	Production of Naval Supplies: +100% Local production efficiency
A Smuggler's Deal	+0.1 The smugglers influence −20% Mercenary cost	Mercenary Companies do not cost Army Professionalism
Bounty Hunting	+50% Naval tradition from battles +50% Prestige from naval battles +33% Chance to capture enemy ships +0.1 Monthly captains influence	Gain 1 years of income and 10 Naval Tradition from destroying enemy flagships (bonus dubbles when flagship is Captured)
Empower the Quartermasters	−15% Naval maintenance modifier −15 Maximum absolutism	Burghers estate enabled

Comments: Empower the Quartermasters for the burgers estate is super great. Open Naval services might be good is you own lots of provinces with Naval supplies (but you won't probably). Bounty Hunting could be fun if you have 100% chance of Capture enemy ship, but how many nations will have flagships really? Probably England, France, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Venice, Genua, Ottomans, Naples, Lubeck?, Denmark. Will there be any flagships outside of Europe? There is no way to see what nations that have flagships in the ledger. Does not seem worth it for a good payout a few times per century mid and late game.

Tier 8: Consolidation of Power[edit | edit source]

x	Effects	Notes
Broaden Executive Powers	−15% Stability cost modifier
Devolution of Powers	+1 Diplomat
Expand Buccaneers' Power	+0.1 The buccaneers influence +25% Marines force limit +25% National sailors modifier
Power to the Smugglers	+0.1 The smugglers influence +1 Merchant +25% Ship tradepower propagation
Captains in Charge	+0.1 Monthly captains influence +10% Heavy ship combat ability +1 Fleet movement speed

Comments: Hard choice, they are all average. Pick Power to the Smugglers for the +1 Merchant (+25% Ship tradepower propagation is no good). Expand Buccaneer's Power is useless. Captains in charge for the +10% Heavy ship combat ability is alright (fleet movment speed is useless).

Tier 9: Guiding Principle of Administration[edit | edit source]

x	Effects	Notes
Political Principle	+1 Administrative possible policies
Moral Principle	+1 Diplomatic possible policies
Defense Principle	+1 Military possible policies
Military Principle	−0.5 Yearly republican tradition +10 Maximum absolutism −5 Years of separatism	Winning wars grant 5 Republican Tradition (separate peaces do not count).

Comments: All four are usually not great. Moral Principle might be best since pirates probably will have most diplo policies. Military Principle could be even good, but then the pirates must wage more wars than usually.

Tier 10: Electorate[edit | edit source]

x	Effects	Notes
Landholders	+10% Manpower recovery speed
Citizenry	+10% Morale of armies
Dynastic Rule	+2 Diplomatic reputation −0.25 Yearly republican tradition	Has Consorts Allows Royal Marrige. Elections only occur when rules dies.
Rule through Loot	+100% Looting speed −5% Land attrition	Can Raze Provinces

Comments: Rule through Loot! What a great pick! Less land attrition, +100% looting speed AND can Raze provinces! With this pirates can both raid AND raze, perhaps the two most OP abilites in the game.

Tier 11: Office Selection[edit | edit source]

Type	Effects	Description & notes
Appointment by Committee	−5% Advisor costs +1 Possible advisor
Bureaucratic Aparatus	−10% Minimum autonomy in territories
Extended Suffrage	+1 Diplomatic free policies
Pirate Council	+0.5 Yearly republican tradition −15 Maximum absolutism	Parlament enabled

Comments: Extended Suffrage or Pirate Council. Extended Suffrage is good since pirates probobaly have more diplo policies to choose from and it means more diplo points over. Extended Suffrage for the +0.5 republican tradition, +10% province production from parlament seats plus the parlament subjects (but also a bit of a hassle).

Tier 12: Question of Dictatorship[edit | edit source]

Type	Effects	Notes
Strengthen Executive Powers	+25 Maximum absolutism
Reinforce Republican Values	+1 Administrative free policies −10% Reelection cost
Lower the Black Flag		Abolish ‘Pirate Republic’ government reform.
Unified Piratical Confederacy	−50% States governing cost +0.1 The buccaneers influence
Neutral Ground Policy	+2 Diplomatic reputation +15% Improve relations +0.1 The smugglers influence	Vassals can now Hoist the Black flag Overlord gain following modifiers for each pirate republic subject: Manpower increase +4000 Sailors increase +2000 Yearly Navy tradition: +0.25 Naval Force limit: +2
Scourge of the Seven Seas	+20 Maximum absolutism +100% Naval tradition from battles +100% Army tradition from battles +0.1 Monthly captains influence	Raiding Coasts increase Power Projection by +1 Winning battles which are lead by the ruler: Increase Legitimacy (or equivalent) by +0.5 Republican Tradition, Absolutism and Revolutionary Zeal by +0.1

Comments: Scourge of the Seven Seas for the power projection from raiding. Unified Piratical Confederacy could be great in the late game to negate the +75% gov cost in states when the pirate nation is big. Neautral Ground Policy could be good with many small client vassals, but probably difficult to have more than 5 that is (+20 000 max manpower, +10 000 max sailors, navy tradition +1.25, Naval force limit +10 (perhaps +25 in reality with other bonues from ideas and monuments).

Forming[edit | edit source]

Through event[edit | edit source]

Main article: Piratical_events#Formation_events

Historical and formable pirate republics are tied to their regions and have different conditions to be created. See their pages to find out the specifics.

Releasing a former pirate republic tag as a vassal or through peace deal creates a regular non-pirate country.

List of formable pirate republics[edit | edit source]

Africa

Europe

New World

Asia

Through decision[edit | edit source]

Players can convert their nation to a Pirate Republic if they meet certain criteria. Most importantly, they need to be located on an island or in the Mahgreb.

id

Hoist the Black Flag

How can laws and civilization compete with freedom and the promise of treasure? It’s time to hoist the black flag and declare a Pirate Republic!

Potential requirements

The country:

is not a subject nation.
is not the Papal State.
is not the emperor of the HRE.
is not a revolutionary country.
is a monarchy or a republic.
has not enacted Pirate Republic, Presidential Dictator, Plutocracy (aka Merchant republic), Dutch Republic, Colonial Government, Shogunate, Elective Monarchy, Celestial Empire, Daimyo, American Republic, Trading City, Free City, Federal Republic, Veche Republic or Venetian Government government reform.
has less than 7 cities.
owns only provinces that are coastal
owns only provinces that are on an island or in Maghreb.

Allow

The country:

has a stability of at least +2.
has a navy of at least 90% of the naval force limit.
does not have subjects.
has at least 10% of the trade power in its home trade node with privateers.
is not bankrupt.
is not at war.

Effects

The country:

loses 2 stability.
becomes a republic.
enacts ‘Pirate Republic’ government reform.
gains 20 republican tradition.
if the country is in the Western or Eastern technology groups:
- use New World Pirates Sprites
if the country is in the Anatolian or Muslim technology groups:
- use Barbary Pirates Sprites

Provinces where pirate republic can be reformed. Orange provinces satisfy on an island requirement, pink are in Maghreb region.

Strategies[edit | edit source]

Pirate republics is a very powerful government type that receives huge income during early game from coastal raiding, and an access to early imperialism-like casus belli. Being in Asia provides an extra benefit of being able to cause early collapse of Ming through devastation caused by coastal raiding. See Emperor_of_China#Mandate

However, it's impossible to get good outcome during Court and Country disaster, arguably making it optimal to switch away from this government type during Age of Absolutism.